journal no. 12 october 2011 - wild chimpanzee foundation · mimi arandjelovic layout: silvia...

Journal No. 12 October 2011

WCF12-2012-engl_Layout 1 17.08.12 09:49 Seite 1

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Le savoir de nos anciens

“Forest Wisdom” is published and distributed by theWild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF)*.

* WCF – Europe c/o Max Planck Institute forEvolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6,04103 Leipzig, GermanyWCF – Afrique de l’Ouest – 23 BP 238 –Abidjan 23 – Côte d’Ivoire

Editorial Committee: Hedwige Boesch, Christophe Boesch,Emmanuelle Normand, Zoro Bertin Goné Bi, Dervla Dowd,Christine LevantComics & Text: Dao N’Daw KoumbaIllustrations: Désiré Koffi, Ben Amara SyllaPhotographs: WCF and Taï Chimpanzee ProjectEnglish translation: Marie Luise Pellmann, Carole Rowny,Mimi ArandjelovicLayout: Silvia Schütze

Forest WisdomForest Wisdom

A Newsletter for all of you Forest Wisdom

Contents

In this volume:• Editorial p. 3• Knowledge of our ancestors p. 4–5• Hodge-podge p. 6• The WCF and its projects p. 7, 8, 16, 23• Macho and Marius: the reconciliation p. 9–15• Cracking Detarium nuts p.17–21• Smiling! p. 22• The tam tam … p. 24

• Tells the story of special forest inhabitants: chimpanzees

• Shows the problems and threats to theforest

• Supplies information• Answers questions and invites you to

contribute to this newsletter• Invites you to protect the great forest,

a national heritage that is yours as well

• Villagers who live near a national park• Anyone who works for the conservation

of forests

In 2011, the WCF was financially supported for its awareness and bio-monitoring activities by private donations and the following organizations:

Theater with “Eddie Theater Productions” and the WCF in Putu Pennoken, Liberia.

Steward Programm

Ambassade de Suisse Abidjan


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Journal No. 12 October 2011

Christophe Boesch

Hello everybody,

The start of 2011 was very difficult for the Ivory Coast but now that the conflict is resolved, it is important that we continue to strive for peace.

The environment can become an important focus fordevelopment, and examples of other African countries’ success stories should give us confidence.Taï National Park, with its chimpanzees that use large stone hammers to crack nuts, its ten monkeyspecies of different colours, and its pygmy hippo -potamuses, represents a unique richness in the world!Why, in the future, couldn’t it be a tourist attractionthat would be unique in the world too? Similarattrac tions have been successful in other Africancountries; for example, tourists visit Botswana toview elephants, Kenya and Tanzania to view lions,Rwanda and Uganda to view gorillas, and Congo toview chimpanzees and monkeys. Many projects havebeen implemented in these countries recently withthe participation of local communities to protect

PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND ECO-tourism

these wild animal populations and attract tourists.The main conditions are security and peace, of course!

If we manage to guarantee security and peace in theregion, the conditions for the start of eco-tourismwould be met and we could, for the first time inIvory Coast, initiate a project where the natural heritage of the country would contribute to the development of the villages of an entire region.

Besides, chimpanzees also know how to make peace!Some old males even have the capacity to under-stand the particular interests of some “partisans ofpower” and this doesn’t prevent them from first and fore most defending the general interest of the group. Read our “story about chimpanzees” on page 9: The situation was tense and yet, thanks to one chimpanzee in particular, peace returned for the security of everybody. We can draw some lessonsfrom this…

The first CD with the songs of Ymako Teatri will be distributed during the WCF tourin your villages!


4

The knowledge of our ancestors

Gnesio Téré Henri,Hedwige Boesch

Many animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, rats,and elephants, consume the fruit and they delight init. But this tree also has many virtues that are appreciated by people! Its dry leaves distributed on the heaps of earth on yams prevent termites from destroying the crops and are also an effective fertilizer.

All types of usage: Gnesio Téré Henri

Nutritional useThe fresh fruit are eaten as they are. The pulp is usedfor making pancakes, sweet, couscous, and flour. Theseed produces edible and marketable oil.

Domestic useThe wood can be used to produce furniture, including tables, benches, chairs, drums, mortars,beds, and other traditional tools like kitchen utensils: “talié” soup tureens, and spoons. It is alsoused as firewood in households. In the Gueré country, its wood is used for making traditional shoes called “tahié” in the local language.

Medical useBoiling the leaves produces a tea that, taken three times a day, is used to treat malaria, exhaustion, andrheumatism. From a spiritual point of view, thedrink serves to heal corporal burning sensations andto treat bad spells and curses.

This same tea is also used to wash the body, especially in cases of dysentery and eye irritations like conjunctivitis and to reduce itchiness.

A tea made from boiling the roots, taken once a dayin the morning, is used by women to relieve severe

Detarium senegalense J.F.Guel. (Caesalpiniaceae) Colour drawing by the late Amon Aya Lazard.

Detarium senegalense

The Detraium senegalense tree (Caesalpiniaceae) is widespread throughout tropical Africa; you can find itin Ivory Coast, Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, Congo, Togo, Soudan, Benin, Mozambique, and Ghana, often near water.

In local languages, the tree is called Bodo, Tabakoumbaor Tabanikro (in Malinké); Zaman or Zama (in Guéré);Boto (in Guinée); Kalé, Kru-basa or Kpay (in Libéria);Kissi Gboe (in Sierra Leone); Kaguédéga or Gurma bobunakala (in Burkina Faso); Takyi kyiriwa or Kukpuka(in Ghana); Mango or Tschaudio (in Togo); Kukubé (in Benin); Fantu (in Niger); Edo or Oguego (in Nigeria). The tree can reach heights of 20 to 30 m andgrows in dense, humid, evergreen forests. Its trunk isstraight and covered in a blackish, delicately crackedbark with large, very hard scales. Its leaves are compound, rounded, and 4 cm long. Its flowers aresmall and white. Its fruit, in the form of big drupes, have a very fibrous pulp with a flat seed inside that forms the nucleus.


5

The knowledge of our ancestors

pain associated with menstruation and pain in the lower abdomen. This tea is also used as antidote forintoxication and against anemia and physical andmental weakness.

The rootbark can be mixed with palm wine anddrunk to counteract poison and fight mental illnessand anemia. This mixture is also given to womenwho have recently given birth to help them deliverthe placenta.

Mixing the tea made from the bark with clay isthought to treat stomach diseases, abdominal pain,and obstructions.

The bark’s paste applied externally could be good forskin care and treating certain injuries.

Finally, the bark’s powder, mixed with tonic ormash, could serve to fight against digestion problemsin children.

Misfortune would fall on anyone who would try tokill an animal sitting in the foliage of this tree oreating a fruit while holding up one hand. Therewas an example in Goulegui Beoue where a youngman wanted to kill a white nose monkey sitting inthis tree holding one hand up. The man was badlyinjured when the gun barrel exploded in his hand!Many men who have broken this totem have gonelost in the forest. That’s why the tree is called “Zaman.” It means that the Detarium tree makesmen get lost in the forest.Even today, it is said that when a hunter or poachertries to shoot a Cercopithecus monkey, a mis fortune would soon fall on him in the forest.This tradition is respected and passed on for generations.The cohabitation and harmony that reigned between men and animals suddenly transformedinto conflict because of Detarium. Men and animals enjoyed the products of this tree. The animals savoured its fruit and men used the wood

to feed their fires, build their houses, and manufacture their tools. When the number of humans increased, God created totems to maintainthe cohesion. He forbade fighting and being nasty.The royal antelope, the supreme chief of the animals, did the same and prohibited quarrellingin the groups.But sooner or later, the heavy use of the tree wasleading to shortage. The men gathered all the fruitthey could carry and left nothing for the animals.One night, when the men were asleep, groups of“Gouè”, the chimpanzee, and “Guy”, the panther,silently stole all the bags of fruit and fled into theforest. When the men woke up, they discovered thetheft. They saw the animals’ tracks and decided, for the first time … to track down the animals! The division and confrontations became permanentquickly. Unfortunately this conflict between animals and mencontinues to exist even today. It is too bad that Godand the Royal Antelope’s decrees went unheeded.

And here is what the ancestors tell us about this mythical tree and guardian of the monkeys in West Africa.

We should protect this tree that offers somany virtues for men and also for animals.


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HODGE-PODGE

Match each animal’ s name to the picture ofthe hands shown in the photos. Its late and soon night will fall.

Help each of the animals find a place to sleep through the night.

Help the chimpanzee mother c find her baby. Watch out for leopards and snakes!

The shadows of the chimpanzees are all mixed up! Join each chimpanzee to their shadow.

WHOSE HAND IS IT?

FIND THE WAY

FIND THE HOME OF EACH ANIMAL

SHADOW GAMES


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The WCF and its Projects …

Since 2010, the WCF has been working in a concession of Arcelor Mittal Liberia Limited(AML) in collaboration with Conservation International (an NGO for conserving nature) andthe Liberian authority of forest management(Foresty Development Authority – FDA) in Nimba County, Liberia. AML is an iron miningcompany that has been working in this region since 2007. As mining activities lead to soil erosion, bio diversity loss in general, and chimpanzee loss in particular, the WCF and itspartners lead a program of biomonitoring (1) inthis region in connection with the various stakeholders.

We will soon present our results about the state ofnature in this site. At present, we are aware of twocommunities in the region comprising up to70 chimpanzees. The area of their distribution inthe concession is also known.

With this project we are hoping to convince themining company to protect nature in the exploitedarea. We aim to propose compensation sites tothem (2) to enable them to carry on their activitieswhile also conserving nature. Currently we areproposing to do a large-scale census in certain regions of Liberia in order to propose quality offsetsites. We hope that our efforts to protect the future of the chimpanzee communities of theNimba Mountains in Liberia will not be in vain.

The WCF knows that the exploitation of resourceslike iron is essential for a country’s economy. Nonetheless, it is also essential that the presentand future human populations live in harmonywith nature in their country. This nature is a guarantee for the future too. The rain that is essential for the forest is by the same just as essential for the survival of men.

1 – biomonitoring means: collecting information in a region about fauna, flora, and human activities to ensure the regular monitoring of certainactivities.

2 – compensation site or “offset” means: the miners are aware of the destruction of nature and, to compensate this loss, they will make a financialcontribution to protect another region of intact forest for the survival of the chimpanzees that live there.

How can we convince the miners to take into consideration the protectionof chimpanzees in Liberia?N’Goran K. Paul

La mesure de distance pendant un recensement dans la forêt dense

Un nid frais de chimpanzé trouvé lors d'un recensement


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The WCF and its Projects …

The state of the Ivorian ForestEmma Normand

In the years following independence, West Africawas covered with huge forests. The Ivory Coast inparticular had over 16 million hectares of forest!This abundant forest was rich in species and wasnot much endangered. The needs of the populations which were living next to it were satisfied. Men could live on their crops and feedwithout disturbing the balance of nature.

Today the forest is so poorly managed that it is indistress. Illegal forest exploitations, felling of trees,illegal clearing, poaching, and bushfires are killingthe forest at an exponential rate. Even protectedparks and reserves are not spared and disappear. Nature is imbalanced and becomes dryer from dayto day. The disappearance of fauna and flora leadswithout mercy to poverty and lack of drinking water for the populations that can no longer livewith the forest as they had done in the past.

Only long-term management of our forests and protected areas can guarantee a better life thanksto the survival of our plants and animals. The protection of a dense forest corridor connectingthe Ivory Coast to Liberia is therefore essential.This corridor will enable animals to circulate freely and to survive. The conservation of our protected areas (like, for example, Taï NationalPark) would at the same time protect all livingspecies. This shows that conservation is vital for us all!

This is why we should all become involved personnally in protecting our forests to avoid theloss of this incredible biodiversity that is of suchunique importance in the whole of West Africa!

No to deforestation!

Let us protect our forests!

Excessive forest exploitation, Illegal clearing, Poaching

Flora and fauna

Deforestation, Dryness, Decrease in agricultural production, Disappearance of fauna, Lack of drinking water, Poverty


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Macho and Marius: Reconciliation among thechimpanzees of the Taï Forest!

Hedwige Boesch tells of an interaction that was observed by Roman Wittig, researcher at the Max PlanckInstitute in Leipzig.

Information : make peace

Alone, a chimpanzee is dead! He needs his group to survive. The social life is structured so that after each conflict, the opponents will soon come together to calm each other down by sharing food andgrooming each other. This is how chimpanzees make peace after a dispute and by doing so, they ensurethat the group’s social life continues normally. Better yet, if the opponents are too angry to make peacethemselves, their friends make peace instead of them.

If the chimpanzees squabble often, they make peace often too! Aggression, reconciliation, and consolation are all very important for the social life of the group. The chimpanzees know it perfectly!

Hey, come on

Macho, attack!

But Brutus, what are

you waiting for?

Do something! They’ll

hurt each other.

Wow, Macho

bit him!

Oh, poor Marius is really

in trouble.

Let us hope that the fight

finishes without too much

damage.

The atmosphere between Macho, the dominant male, and Marius, a young, ambitious chimpanzee who wantsto take his place, really is heated. The two chimpanzees beat each other up and bite each other … Old Brutus, the former alpha male, watches this confrontation and power struggle from a distance. He knows itfar too well …

New story


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Macho and Marius: Reconciliation among the chimpanzees of the Taï Forest!

Marius loses the fight once again. He seems very frustrated and has difficulty accepting defeat. He focuses onMacho, approaches him and even tries to groom him! Macho remains indifferent. He doesn’t even look at himand grooms Brutus in the middle of all the others. Nevertheless he’s still a bit nervous and occasionally lookstowards Marius.

I feel that Marius

wants to attack Macho

from behind.

Macho thinks

he won. I’ll take

revenge.

Ah! This Marius

thought that he could beat

me but I definitely won

this fight!

Listen, there’s nothing to be

proud of. Among friends you respect

the combat rules and the winner has

to be gracious.


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Marius is now sitting all alone and sulking, far away from the other two chimpanzees. Brutus, lying on theback, feels that he has to intervene and starts to play with Macho. He pulls his arm hair and teases him bypatting him on the head with his index finger. Macho begins to relax.

I’m feeling very

humbled, he really

got me.

Macho, it’s time to

make peace with Marius,

you should reconcile.Ok, I feel that Marius

doesn’t accept his defeat,

he’s sulking …

Macho,

follow me, we’ll

play train!

Oh, so it’s me who

has to reconcile these two

hot heads.

Amused, Macho begins to answer! When Brutus gets on all fours, Macho takes his ankles and then starts towalk while holding his legs! They’re walking one behind the other by playing “train” with happy expressionson their faces. Brutus is the “train driver” and for several minutes the two surround a tree while “laughing”.


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Suddenly Brutus changes direction and approaches the tree where Marius is sitting, grimly observing them.It seems that Brutus wants the war between the two males to stop. That’s certainly the reason he’s now doingfigure-eights around the two trees. In this way, he approaches Macho and “the train” to Marius who is stillsulking.

Hey, Brutus,

where do we go?

Just follow me.

To top it all off, this

Macho is noisy.


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Now the three chimpanzees, with Marius as leader and Brutus and Macho behind him, play “train”together and make figure-eights around two trees. They’re laughing like kids!!

Hey, come on

Marius, we’ll play.

Take the head of

the train.

What are you

doing Brutus? Let

go of my leg.

Hurry up,

come on, off

we go!

Hey guys,

we’re moving

forward!

I’m so happy.

Thanks to Brutus I

regained my friend

Macho.

Suddenly, Brutus takes Marius’ ankles and pushes him into the play.


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Ooh, Brutus is just

great, he managed to

reconcile us.

Brutus gave me my smile

back - it’s stupid for Macho and

me to be at odds with each

other.

Some minutes later Brutus discreetly drops out of the play. Macho automatically takes Marius’ ankles and thetwo friends continue to play “train”. Marius is the “locomotive” and Macho the “carriage” that follows.They’re having fun together and are relieved that the conflict is resolved!


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There’s nothing like living in

peace and harmony!

Look at these

two having fun

right now!

Bravo Brutus!

He really knew how to

use his intelligence to

the benefit of our

community life.

You know very well

that I’m faster than

you, ha, ha, ha!

Slow down a bit!

You’ll make me

fall!

Brutus, the masterful initiator of this reconciliation, is sitting close to the play area. He watches the twochimpanzees who have visibly made peace and are now able to play and have fun together thanks to him!

Protect thechimpanzees,an endangeredspecies!

Stop the violent

killing of

chimpanzees!

It’s illegal!

Respect the law!

I’m involved in

protecting

chimpanzees

and their

habitat.

Wild Chimpanzee Foundationwww.wildchimps.org


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The WCF and its projects ...

The Ivory Coast and Liberia share the largest forestblock in West Africa, an area called Taï-Sapo com-plex. This forest block has one of the highest levelsof biodiversity in tropical Africa. It is a shelter for several endemic species, which means that theydon’t exist anywhere else in the world.This zone contains six protected areas: Taï National Park, the classified forests of Goin-Débé,Cavally, and Haute-Dodo in Ivory Coast, and SapoNational Park and Grebo National Forest in Liberia. This amazing region is constantly threatened by deforestation! Human activitiesstrongly split it up and threaten the fauna’s survival. These natural areas must be protected!For this reason, the WCF and its partners initiateda project called “Transborder corridor Taï-Sapo.”Its aim is to connect the isolated forests with ecological corridors (1) to ensure the safe circulation of animals throughout the forests. Thiswill enable males and females to meet and willhelp to protect endangered species such as elephants, chimpanzees, and many others.In 2010-2011, the WCF did a census to see howmany animals were present in certain regions that

TAÏ-SAPO – an ecological transborder corridorEmma Normand

could become suitable corridors conncting Taï National Park with Grebo Forest in the zone ofDjouroutou and Taï. Three-hundred km of transects (2) have been analysed around and alongthe Hana river in Djouroutou, and along the N’Zè,Saro, and Cavally in Taï. Field assistants notedwhen they encountered animals, human tracks, and the type of land use.Analysing these data showed that monkeys, pygmyhippopotamuses, buffalos, and even leopards,which are very difficult to find, still use these damaged forest corridors.

Subsequent to these results, the WCF and its partners held meetings in the villages about theprotection of the Taï-Sapo corridor. Everyone wasoverwhelmingly in favour of this and the idea ofbetter environmental protection in the sub-regionhas spread widely. Everyone is now looking forward to seeing which projects will be implemented to bring direct benefits to the people living in and around these corridors. Theprograms could include agroforestry, certificationof cultivated cocoa, and reforestation.

1 – ecological corridor = a band of forest enabling the animals to move freely in a region that is otherwise occupied by human activities like camps,plantations, roads, …

2 – transect = straight line marked with the aid of a white rope through the forest (see photo on page 7). The researchers following this mark takesystematic notes of the tracks of animals, plants, and human activities that they encounter in a given area on either side of the rope.

Well preserved corridor – rich nature! Poor protection – poor nature!


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Cracking Detarium nuts – Goma and her son Gargantuahave their hands full ... !

Who says that the forest is the paradise on earth where food falls directly from the tree into your mouth?The chimpanzees of the Taï Forest in Ivory Coast are world famous for the way they crack different species ofnuts using tools. These nuts are delicious, nutritious, and abundant. It would be a shame not to enjoy them,but beware, nothing is given without effort! The fruit of Detarium senegalense is particularly special. The large flat kernel of about 3–5 cm seems to beinaccessible at first sight. Indeed, it is enclosed within a fine brown shell which is not very hard, but thisshell is surrounded by a kind of a fibrous net that is extremely tough (see pictures of the plant on pages 4and 5).

How beautiful!

Fruit everywhere! We’ll have

a delicious meal!

Don’t get your hopes

up too soon, Gargantua!

The harder part remains

to be done!

Hedwige Boesch

New story


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Cracking Detarium nuts – Goma and her son Gargantua have their hands full ... !

Don’t count on it!

Look how I’m

doing it.

Oh, it’s difficult even

with the hammer! When can I

finally eat without making too

much effort?

Detarium trees are very visible and imposing with their large roots. They serve as perfect “work tables” tocrack nuts on. Goma uses a large wooden hammer to powerfully hit the fibrous shell that cushions the nutfrom shock. She regularly checks her work to make sure that the shell is cracking.


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The fibres are so tough that the chimpanzees only eat these nuts at the end of the season, in April and May,when the external pulp of the fruit is decayed and it is easier to tear the fibres and get at the nut.

Mum is the best!

She’s so strong! She has to pull

with both hands to tear

the fibres …

Ah, these kids,

they have to learn a lot in the

school of life.

Oh yes, I see,

I have to introduce my canine

at the right place - where the

seed starts pearcing

the shell.

That’s good.

I think you really understood

the lesson. Now you have

to work!

Now Goma uses her teeth to crack the shells. She puts her canine under the fibres, in the place where apoint of germination has started coming through, then she pulls with all her might.


Patience

isn’t yet his

strength!

You see, my dear,

if you watch closely, you’ll soon

be able to eat these

fruits too.

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Ah, little Gargantua just

discovered that despite the forest’s

wealth of food, it takes effort to eat

and survive.

You should have told

me before! I wouldn't have

insisted with this hammer

for nothing

Have you understood, my dear?

For you, the hammer will serve no purpose.

You have to choose the right fruit and

use your hands and teeth.

Finally, Goma uses a stick to remove the kernel from the fibrous shell. So, there is a lot of work to be invested before a well-earned meal can be savoured: the use of a hammer, the hands, the teeth, and even astick are needed to finally reach the kernel. Bon appétit!

I understood

but give me more -

I’m hungry!


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Ah, Mum, you

didn’t tell me how

complicated it is

to eat.

Information :

It seems that Gargantua understood the lesson: he doesn’t yet have the necessary strength to use a hammer onungerminated nuts. For him, the secretof success is to find the right fruit! Heexamines the nuts to find one that isstarting to germinate, which he can tellbecause of the whitish sprout that appears from the kernel through theshell. Without hesitation he puts hiscanine in this small opening and holding the fruit in both hands, he manages to remove the kernel.

2. LE GOINDEBE ET LE CAVALLY

CHORUSThe forests of Goin-Débé and CavallyAre all classified forests that must be protectedProtect all our forests, all our reservesProtect all these forests that must be preservedTaï National Park, all of our reservesAre all forests that we need to protectProtect all animals, all chimpanzeesProtect all animals in all our forests

First verseAll of our forests, all our parks and reserves,Are all forests that we need to preserveThe forests of Goin-Débé and Cavally for exampleAre all forests that we need to protectSeveral animal speciesSeveral plant speciesAre in the process of disappearing If we don’t do the right thingThe situation will become irreversibleFor these species on the brink of extinctionDon’t think this is a rare problemReact quickly, sound the highest alertSo that at the final countLife of the animal worldAnd life of the plant worldWill find a thriving equilibrium

CHORUSSecond verseAll slaughtered animalsAll felled treesAlways causeAn imbalance in natureLook at every day AfricaWhere all plantations are infectedAnd all this because there is a surplus of insectsLocusts devastate cropsCaterpillars eat all the cuttingsAnd that is agricultureWho is always endorsing these hard knocksWhy this misadventureIn which there is no escape?Is it a ruptureBetween man and Mother Nature?The prediction for the forestIf there is no forest, there are no animalsIf there are no animals, the forest cannot survive for longIf there is no forest, there will be no rainAnd without rain, the drought will comeIf there is drought, the desert will comeIf the desert comes, there will be no waterIf the desert comes, there will be no farmersAnd without farmers, there will be no cropsAnd without crops, there will be nothing more to eatIf there is nothing to eat, all men will be hungrySo protect the forest to avoid all these problems

Nesséré Dji JP. (Translation: Mimi Arandjelovic)

Stick with it, my son!

Sometimes you have to fight

for a good meal! Alas!

But the meal afterwards is

so delicious!

SOS FORETSIVOIRIENNES

The first CD with the songs ofYmako Teatri will be

distributed during the WCFtours in your villages! –

(see also page 3)


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Smiling!


23

The WCF and its projects ...

In February and March 2011, the WCF is againtouring Liberia to make the forest zone inhabitantsaware of the importance of protecting chimpanzeesand natural forests.

Our team was warmly welcomed by the local communities in 10 villages surrounding Sapo National Park and Grebo National Forest of whicha part is projected to become a national park soon.We really hope that this very important projectwill be met with positive attitudes.

Our team consisted of 19 people, including members of the Liberian Forest DevelopmentAgency (FDA), Dr. Zoro Bertin Goné Bi and Thomas Gelsi of the WCF, and 13 performers ofEddie Theater Productions.

This year, 5000 people watched our performancesand films. The WCF and FDA agents answered allkinds of questions by the local communities aboutforestry law, chimpanzee behaviour, and forest conservation.

The WCF is again on the way to Liberia!Dervla Dowd

The tour was a great success and the WCF is now eager to return to this area and visit other villagesto interact further with the liberian population.Such contacts are very important because who else,if not the local population, is confronted dailywith the destruction of nature? Only with the helpof the inhabitants will it be possible to protect nature. We’re happy to see that they seem to bemore and more aware of these problems.

Thanks to the help of the Swiss Embassy in IvoryCoast and the support of the Paul Schiller Foundation, the WCF was able to re-launch itsfish farming activities in 4 of the 10 villages where these activities had been interrupted by thepost-election crisis in 2010/2011.

To increase the productivity of these farms, a henhouse was built directly on the pond in eachfarm. This is very useful because the dung andfood scraps deposited by the chickens, leads to thefertilization of the pond, and the production of

plankton, a natural food source for Tilapia, is enhanced. In this way, the benefits are shared!

Fish farming and chickens get onvery well!N’Guessan Antoine et Emma Normand

Choosing his prey – theater with “Eddie Theater Productions” and theWCF in Chebios Town, Liberia.


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The tam tam ...

It never hurts to learn about laws that regulate lifein a country! The laws cited below ensure the survival of the fauna and flora in protected areas inIvory Coast. The WCF can only applaud such wisdom and foresight. With these laws, leadersprotect nature for all citizens and their children.Today we present the law articles of the Ivory Coast. In future newsletters, we will present those concerning the protection of nature in neighbouring countries.

LAW ARTICLES CONCERNING FAUNA AND FLORA IN IVORY COAST

1. ARTICLE 89 OF THE LAW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE

– Anyone who fells trees or slaughters animals inthe classified forests, the protected areas and thenational parks will be punished by a period ofimprisonment of 2 months to 2 years and of afine of 5.000.000 FCFA.

2. ARTICLE 5 OF THE DECREE No 72-544 OF THE28th AUGUST 1972; CONCERNING THECREATION OF THE TAÏ NATIONAL PARK

– Harvesting of honey, wax, medicinal plants orfood plants

– any fishing activity, regardless of the nature, inrivers and ponds located within the park isforbidden.

Respect the laws of the Ivory Coast!

3. ARTICLE 75 OF THE LAW 2002-102 OF THE11th FEBRUARY 2002 CONCERNING THECREATION, THE MANAGEMENT AND THEFINANCING OF THE NATIONAL PARKS ANDNATURAL RESERVES IN THE IVORY COAST

– anyone who cuts, pulls up, removes, or damagesthe flora (the forest) in a national park or naturalreserve in any way, and

– anyone who kills, injures, fishes, or captures theanimals in a national park or natural reserve willbe punished by a fine of 100.000 to 1.000.000FCFA and a period of imprisonment of 8 days to2 years or one of these two punishments.

4. ARTICLE 23 OF THE LAW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE

– Felling, uprooting, and mutilating the protectedforest species is forbidden in the forest domainof the state.

5. ARTICLE OF THE LAW No 94-442 OF THE 16thAUGUST 1994 CONCERNING THE FAUNAAND HUNTING IN IVORY COAST

– Capturing and hunting completely protectedanimals, including their young or their eggs, is forbidden.

The taboos of the protected areasIntegral nature reservesIt is forbidden to:penetrate, circulate, camp or reside in, or fly over at low altitude, without the special written permission of the competent authority, and to realise scientific research withoutthe permission of this authority.

Respect the law!


journal no. 12 october 2011 - wild chimpanzee foundation · mimi arandjelovic layout: silvia...

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